Receiving,classifying and propelling device



Feb. 18, 1969 H. v. HEUSER 3, 8, 3

RECEIVING CLASSIFYING AND PROPELLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1966 Sheet of5 I ,F::::::::::;:: a fl" i /5 I" 5 I 7 'E H /-,4a 5/\ W i him i 4 Ir--52 21 v 44 H I i i f e2 47 64 32H 6 i :65 I e3 2 60. 55 66 57 HENRY VHEUSER fi/w. w?

HIS ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1969 H. v. HEUSER 3,

RECEIVING CLASSIFYING AND PROPELLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21. 1966 Sheet 3INVENTOR. HENRY V HEUSER /dM/UA HIS ATToRA/EY United States Patent 2Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Discloses a rotating receiving,classifying and propelling member for use with an icemaking machine ofthe type having vertically extending tubes for conducting downwardlyflowing water to be frozen into ice under the influence of a refrigerantsurrounding the tubes so as to form solid or hollow ice rods inside thetubes. The rotating receiving, classifying and propelling memberreceives sized pieces of ice cut from the rods by a revolving knife andconsists of a series of radiating ribs each of which extend outwardlyand rearwardly to the periphery of the member. In combination therewithis a deflector member extending across said receiving member inproximity to a discharge port, said deflector coacting with therevolving member to produce a reaction force which is exerted on the cutice cylinders to propel them through a curved path defined by said ribsselectively to a discharge port at the periphery of the rotatingcircular member.

This invention relates to a rotary receiving, classifying and propellingdevice to be used with an icemaking apparatus such as is disclosed inKuba-ugh Patent No. 2,239,234 granted Apr. 22, 1941. In this typemachine, which is in wide commercial use, ice in cylindrical form ismanufactured in a bundle of upright externally refrigerated tubes by theflow of water through said tubes. The ice forms by accretion on theinner walls of the tubes, the thickness of ice being dependent upon thelength of the freezing period. Normally the :freezing cycle is such thatthe ice cylinders do not freeze completely which results in a hollow icerod. Thus cold water continuously flows through the tubes and insolubleimpurities are washed out of the ice as it forms by accretion on thewalls of the tubes. This produces a clear, transparent, ice rod withoutan opaque center core. At the end of the freezing period the outersurface of the ice cylinder is thawed by admission of hot refrigerant tothe apparatus, so as to break its adherence to the walls of the tube. Ittherefore slides gravitationally from the lower end of said tube intoengagement with a support above which a revolving knife progressivelysevers the ice cylinder into small units or pieces.

Despite the fact that the severed pieces are in reality cylindrical inform with a center aperture, they are often referred to as ice cubes orcylinders. These cubes or cylinders are stored in a bin from which theyare withdrawn as needed.

It willbe appreciated that the revolving knife or severing memberproduces, in addition to the severed cubes, ice chips and fragments,which are referred to in the trade as fines. When the severed cubes arestored, the undersized pieces of ice and fines tend to sift into theinterstices between cubes and freeze or pack, thus producing two or morecubes frozen together rather than discrete cubes, as desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a classifying means for thesevered cubes which will classify and separate the cubes from the fines.

It is another object of this invention ot provide a means 3,428,173Patented Feb. 18, 1969 "ice which will propel the classified ice cubesto a desired point for discharge from the unit.

Still another object of this invention is a support plate Which willreceive, classify and propel the sevcred ice cubes so as to preventbridging or packing of the ice cubes in storage.

Still another object of this invention is a method and means whereby theice chips and fines will be delivered to the cold water tank so thelatent heat of fusion of the ice will be advantageously used inprecooling water for the further production of ice cubes.

Basicially my invention involves the provision of a circular receivingmember which is rotatably driven to classify and propel the ice cubeslaterally toward a chute. The receiving member consists of a hub havinga series of ribs radiating therefrom so that each rib curves outwardlyand rearwardly to the periphery of the circular member. The spacing ofthe ribs is such that the distance between the ribs at any particularpoint is less than the minimum outer dimension of the ice cubes so thatthe ribs act as tracks to propel the cubes through a path terminating atthe edge of the member. The ribs are so arranged that the cubes areretained thereon and are driven through a path defined by said ribs to adischarge port. In the process of moving through this path (laterallyand rearwardly, relative to the direction of the rotatively drivencircular member), the ice chips and fines fall through the space betweenthe ribs into the cold water tank so that the latent heat of fusion ofthe ice is available to precool the water in the cold water tank furtherfor recycling to the icemaking stage. In combination with the circularreceiving plate is a deflector fixedly mounted across said receivingplate between the hub and the upper edge of said discharge port, whichcoacts with said rotating circular member to produce a reaction forcewhich is impressed on said out ice cylinders to selectively propel orforce said regular size ice pieces through said path defined by saidribs to said discharge port and to gravitationally separate saidundersize ice pieces therefrom.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of aportion of an icema-king machine incorporating the inventon.

FIG. 2 is a vertical diametrical sectional view of part of FIG. 1 withparts in elevation.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the receiving, classifying and propellingdevice of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified receiving, classifyingand propelling member which illustrates the relation of the deflectorthereto.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the relation of theribs of the receiving, classifying and propelling member to the icecube.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer jacket 1 of afreezer or evaporator has tubes 2 extending through a bottom plate ortube head 3. The upper end of the freezer may be similarly constructedand as the freezer and water supply are of conventional construction,they are not further illustrated. In the freezing phase of operation aliquid refrigerant is supplied to the jacket surrounding tubes 2 andwater flows down the inside walls of tubes 2 and freezes thereon, excesswater being discharged at the bottom of the tubes and flowing into coldwater tank 45 for recycling back through the tubes to the freezingoperation. In the thawing phase of operation the refrigerant surroundingtubes 2 may be displaced or heated to thaw loose the ice rods in thetubes thus allowing them to drop to a severing mechanism which seversthe ends of the rods as they project from the tubes. The severingmechanism is enclosed in a chamber 4 below the ends of the tubes andthis chamber has a side opening or port 5 adjacent to the bottom fordischarge of ice therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom plate or tube head 3 of the freezer orevaporator is centrally bored and threaded to receive a threaded stud 7upon which is located a bearing sleeve 8. Surrounding this sleeve is aflanged bushing 9 of antifriction material, of somewhat shorter lengththan the sleeve, pressed into the hub 11; and the sleeve 8 is clampedagainst the bottom plate of the freezer by a Washer 12 and locking nuts13. The washer 12 thus retains the bushing 9 and hub 11 against removaland allows the bushing and hub to rotate freely on the sleeve. Anannular rim 14 having a V-groove 15 on its periphery is secured to thecentral hub 11 by a plurality of plates indicated by the numbers 16, 17,1'8, and 19 which may be welded to the hub and rim, or are secured inplace in any other desired manner. The rim, plates and hubs thus aresuspended from the tube head 3 and are rotated by a V-belt 21 passingaround the rim in the groove and around a V-groove pulley 22 driven bythe motor 23.

The upper most plate 16 may be substantially flush with the upper edgeof the rim 14 and its forward or leading edge (when rotating in thedirection of the arrow in FIG. 3) is recessed to receive a relativelysharp edge blade 25, and its rear or opposite edge is relatively blunt.The lowermost plate 17 has its rear edge sufliciently close to blade 25in vertical projection so that the plate acts as a gauge to support theice rod while it is severed by the blade 25. Plate 18 lies in a planeabove plate 17 and below plate 16. Similarly, plate 19 lies in a planeabove plate 18 and below plate 16. The stepped plates allow the ice rodsto be lowered in steps when the severing device rotates in forward orcutting direction until they reach plate 17 where they are severed byblade 25.

The hub 11 of the cutter (FIG. 2) has a flange 41 welded thereto and atubular extension 42 having an upper flange 43 secured thereto. Thelower edge of the tubular extension 42 has keyed therein a shaft 60which is secured to circular member 44 by locking nuts 61. Shaft 60extends through hub 63 and has a shoulder 62 which separates thecircular receiving, propelling and classifying member 44 from thetubular extension 42. Thus the receiving, propelling and classifyingmember 44 is secured to the tubular extension 42 and is revolved at thesame speed by the V-belt 21 of motor 23'. A deflector member indicatedgenerally by the numeral 46 comprises a semicircular bearing portion 47secured to a plate 48. The plate 48 extends across the circular member44 to terminate just above the edge of the discharge port 5, the end ofthe plate being designated by numeral 52. The plate assembly isconnected by welding or other suitable means to a strap bracket 5-1which supports the entire assembly to relieve the plate so that space isprovided between the bottom and the circular member 44 to eliminate wearand noise. The discharge port 5 connects with chute 53 and the chuteleads to insulated bin 55 for storage of ice. A grille 57 may beinterposed adjacent the discharge port 5 to allow water passing throughthe tubes to pass therethrough into the water tank 45 for recirculation.If desired, a deflector plate 58 may be provided between the port 5 andthe severing device. This deflector directs water and falling ice awayfrom port 5 to prevent entrance of water into the storage bin. Deflector58 directs the cubes falling at this point onto the member 44 so as tobe retained thereon for classification prior to being discharged throughport 5.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the receiving, propelling and classifyingmember consists of a hub 63 to which radiating ribs 64 are attached bywelding or other suitable means. Each of the ribs is curved outwardlyand rearwardly (relative to the direction of rotation of the hub 63), inthe form of a large are, so as to terminate at a point 65 at theperiphery of the circular member. The ends of the ribs are welded orattached by other suitable methods to an outer rim or ring 66 which islocated below the ribs 64 so as to prevent obstruction to the propulsionof the ice cubes therefrom. As is illustrated in FIG. 3 there may beprovided reinforcing spokes 67 which are welded at various points toeach of the ribs which they contact.

A modified form of the receiving, classifying and propelling device isillustrated in FIG. 4 in which each of the ribs is attached to the hubso that the distance 69 between adjacent ribs increases progressively asthe ribs approach the periphery and are welded to the outer ring 66 atpoint 65. In this embodiment, the ribs 64 are welded to intermediatering 68. The only criterion is that the widest distance 69 betweenadjacent ribs be less than the outer dimension of the ice cubes. This istrue since in the large commercial icemaking machines the circularmember 44 may be 36 inches or larger in diameter. In such instances theform of circular member shown in FIG. 3 is desired since the distance 69between the adjacent ribs 64 is practically the same throughout. Therelation of the ice cube 70 and the ribs 64 is illustrated in thedetailed drawing in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the ribs act as tracksfor the ice cube retaining it thereon (allowing the undersized particlesand fines to drop through to the cold water tank), and directing italong a specified path to the periphery of the member. In conjunctiontherewith, the deflector plate 48 mounted across the circular member 44coacts with said rotating member to impress a reaction force on thecubes to propel them through said path and through the port 5 into chute53 and thus into the insulated bin 55.

To recapitulate the operation of the apparatus, at the end of thefreezing cycle the freezer tubes are heated in known manner andgravitationally release the ice rods which fall through the lower endsof the tubes and rest upon the plates 16, 17, 1'8 and 19. Assuming therotation in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3, those ice rodswhich rest upon plates 17 (which acts as a gauge) will be engaged by thecutter blade 25 and will be severed by cutting, shearing or breakingaction.

As the severing member rotates the rods resting on plate 18 will droponto the plate 17 and will be cut off or broken by the cutter blade 25that is brought against them. The ice cubes will drop onto the circularmember 44. As the circular member 44 rotates with the cutter the cubesare carried around the plate and rest upon the ribs 64 which act astracks to propel the cubes through the path defined by said ribs.Undersized fragments and ice chips will fall to the cold water tank 45and will be effectively separated from the cubes. As the cubes rotatewith the tracks they engage with the deflector member '46 and theirmotion relative to the tracks pushes them through a predetermined path,rearwardly, relative to the direction of rotation, to the periphery ofsaid circular member 44 and out of the port 5 onto the chute 53 andthence into ice storage bin 55.

Various modifications can be made in the supporting structure for theribs and they may be designed so as to lie substantially equidistantfrom each other or in such manner that the distance between ribsprogressively increases as the distance from the hub increases. The onlycriterion is that the distance 69 between the ribs be less than theminimum outer dimension of acceptable ice cubes, so that all other icefragments drop through the tracks.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for producing cut ice cylinders and including a severingmember for cutting ice rod into sized pieces:

(A) a rotating receiving, classifying and propelling device, forreceiving the cut ice cylinders, separating the cut ice cylinders fromundersized ice piece and for propelling the sized ice cylinders in acurving path, relative to said device, and toward the periphery of thedevice to a discharge port, which comprises:

(1) a circular member comprising a hub and a plurality of ribs radiatingfrom said hub;

(a) each of said ribs being attached to said hub and curving outwardlyand rea-rwardly from the point of attachment, relative to the directionof rotation of said hub and terminating at the periphery of saidcircular member,

(b) said ribs forming spaced tracks for said cylinders, said tracksacting to support, guide and restrain said cylinders against centrifugalforce and undesired random movement in a plane perpendic-ular to theaxis of rotation of said hub and to define a path for said cylindersrearwardly, relative to the direction of rotation of said hub, andtoward the periphery of said circular member,

(c) the distance between said tracks being less than the minimum outerdimension of said ice cylinders,

(2) a housing surrounding said circular member and containing a port fordischarge of said cylinders; and

(3) a deflector, fixedly mounted above and across a portion of saidcircular member and extending from said hub to a point in proximity tosaid port,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 130,125 8/1872 Green 209-350 X1,872,301 8/1932 Klugh 209-351 2,534,782 12/ 1950 Maddux 222- 2,648,2038/ 1953 Heuser 62-320 X 2,721,452 10/1955 Brandin 62-320 2,787,3754/1957 Couplet 209-350 2,466,309 4/1949 Grannon 209-350 FOREIGN PATENTS442,099 11/ 1924 Germany. 554,822 7/1932 Germany.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT HALPER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

